Tagged: Reverend Jesse Jackson

It was 42 years ago today, October 24, 2014, that Jackie Robinson passed away.

Jackie Robinson was honored in a ceremony during the 1972 World Series. Two weeks later, on October 24, 1972, the legendary ball player died at his home in Stamford, Connecticut from a second heart attack.

Three days after Robinson’s death, Reverend Jesse Jackson gave a stirring eulogy to friends and family members who had gathered at the Cypress Hill Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Today we must balance the tears of sorrow with the tears of joy. Mix the bitter with the sweet in death and life.Jackie as a figure in history was a rock in the water, creating concentric circles and ripples of new possibility. He was medicine. He was immunized by God from catching the diseases that he fought. The Lord’s arms of protection enabled him to go through dangers seen and unseen, and he had the capacity to wear glory with grace.Jackie’s body was a temple of God. An instrument of peace. We would watch him disappear into nothingness and stand back as spectators, and watch the suffering from afar.The mercy of God intercepted this process Tuesday and permitted him to steal away home, where referees are out of place, and only the supreme judge of the universe speaks.